For Immediate Release
Monday, October 27, 2025
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#88 Luke Dehnicke (TE, 6-3, 205, R-Fr., Andover, Minn. / Andover HS) – Minnesota Duluth
- Had a multiple career highs in a 54-32 win over the University of Mary
- Led the NSIC with 230 receiving yards on eight receptions 
- The 230 receiving yards are the second most in a single game in NCAA DII this season
- Had four receiving touchdowns, including a 75-yarder
- Added a two-point conversion
- Accounted for an NSIC best 26 points on the week

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#47 Jes Krcil (LB, 6-1, 220, So., Carlisle, Iowa / Carlisle HS) - Wayne State
- Recorded 14 tackles in a 35-20 upset win over No. 9 Minnesota State
- The 14 tackles were the most in the NSIC this past week
- Credited with six solo and eight assisted tackles
- Had 0.5 tackles for loss for one yard

NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
#36 Jeremy Caruso (K, 5-11, 170, Jr., Wesley Chapel, Fla. / Wiregrass Ranch HS) – Northern State
- Scored 11 points in the Wolves 49-48 overtime victory over MSU Moorhead
- Tallied two made field goals from 23 and 33 yards out
- His 23-yard kick in the fourth with nine seconds remaining forced the overtime period
- Went a perfect 5-for-5 on PATs
- Added 397 kickoff yards, averaging 56.7 yards per kick with two touchbacks
- Moved up to third in the league for made field goals this season

Others Under Consideration
OFFENSE
Cody Oswald (Augustana)
- Caught three touchdowns in a victory over SMSU
- Caught four passes for 74 yards
- Caught his first touchdown from fellow WR Sam Scholten from 13 yards out
- Added an 18-yard touchdown reception from Rich Lucero Jr.
- Both touchdowns came in the final four minutes of the first half
- Added a 45-yard touchdown catch from Lucero to open the second half scoring
Bart McAninch (Bemidji State)
- Earned four touchdowns for the Beavers in 47-25 win over Jamestown
- Went 21-24 passing for 230 yards, with a long of 27 yards
- Connected with Jake Hill on three touchdowns 
- Helped the Beavers to 28 first downs 
Jack Strand (MSU Moorhead)
- Completed 21 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns in a overtime loss at NSU
- Also rushed the ball 13 times for 38 yards and a pair of touchdowns
- Helped account for 35 of MSUM's 48 points in the game
Daniel Britt (Northern State)
- Had 342 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in a 49-48 overtime win
- Threw for a season high 210 yards with two touchdowns, including a 36-yard long
- Completed 12-of-19 attempts, averaging 17.5 yards per completion
- Recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season with 132 total yards and a touchdown
- Averaged 6.3 yards per carry with an 18-yard long
Bubba Tann III (Sioux Falls)
- Helped lead USF to a 24-17 road win over Minot State with 173 yards of total offense
- Led both squads with 161 rushing yards and 1 score on a 54-yard carry
- Career-best numbers in rushing yards and longest rush
- Recorded his fourth 100+ yard game
Brennan Hayes (Wayne State)
- Rushed for career-high 184 yards on 13 carries
- Added two scores in the 35-20 upset win over No. 9 Minnesota State
- Scored on runs of 75 yards in first quarter and 69 yards in fourth quarter
- Averaged 14.2 yards per carry
- Second 100-yard game this season and third of his career

DEFENSE
Gradee Sherman (Augustana)
- Led the NSIC with 2.0 sacks in a victory over SMSU
- Also led the conference with 3.0 tackles for loss
- Helped a front-seven that held the Mustangs to just 18 rushing yards on 24 carries
- Powered a defense that tallied a season-high six sacks and 12 tackles for loss
Cooper Logan (Northern State)
- Led the Northern State defense with ten tackles in their OT win over MSUM
- Recorded his second double figure tackle game of the season
- Notched eight solo stops, including a sack for a loss of two yards
- Added one pass break-up
David Nies (Winona State)
- Recorded seven tackles (two solo) with one TFL and .5 sacks in a 24-14 win over CSP
- Also blocked a field goal to help shutout the Golden Bears in the first half

SPECIAL TEAMS
Jake Pecina (Augustana)
- Made all seven extra points in a dominant win over SMSU
- His seven points ranked third in the NSIC in scoring among kickers
- Continued his strong season punting, averaging a league-high 49.5 yards/punt 
- Had two of his four punts travel at least 50 yards and two downed inside the 20
McKale Pierson (MSU Moorhead)
- Had a kickoff return of 97 yards resulting in a touchdown
- The return is the third-longest in program history
- First kickoff return touchdown since 2021 for the Dragons
Brandon McCary (Minot State)
- Kicked a career-long 48 yard field goal 
- Now has 10 field goals this season 
- Is two from tying the all-time single season school record
- Added three PATs and a kickoff in the game

Last Week's Results

* MSU Moorhead 48, Northern State 49 OT

* Bemidji State 47, Jamestown 25

* Minnesota State 20, Wayne State  35

* Concordia-St. Paul 14, Winona State 24

* UMary 32, Minnesota Duluth 54

* Minot State 17, Sioux Falls 24

* Augustana 57, Southwest Minnesota State 29

 

NSIC Football Players of the Week
9/2/25
O: #12 Gunnar Hensley  - Augustana
D: #45 Mitchell Jezierski  - MSU Moorhead
SP: #14 Connor Fournier - Minnesota State
9/8/25
O: #15 Jack Strand – MSU Moorhead
D: #95 Conner Haggerty – Winona State
SP: #7 Jonathan Shrum  – Minnesota Duluth
9/15/25
O: #3 Brady Perryman – MSU Moorhead
D: #54 Jake Adams – Northern State
SP: #37 Jadon Apgar – Minnesota Duluth
9/22/25
O: #0 Dawson Forgy – Wayne State
D: #49 Christopher Federico - University of Mary
SP: #19 Boston Hensley - Wayne State
9/29/25
O: #11 Maximus Sims - Minnesota State
D: #31 Nalu Cordeiro - Minot State
SP: #39 Drew Henson - Minnesota Duluth
10/6/25
O: #3 Ryan Blair - University of Mary
D: #27 Logan Leonard - Augustana
SP: #45 Brandon McCary - Minot State
10/13/25
O: #10 Tate Schafer – Sioux Falls
D: #54 Jake Adams – Northern State (2)
SP: #14 Connor Fournier - Minnesota State (2)
10/20/25
Not Selected
10/27/25
O: #88 Luke Dehnicke – Minnesota Duluth
D: #47 Jes Krcil - Wayne State
SP: #36 Jeremy Caruso – Northern State

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 122 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.